Fletch's Perspective December 2025 - Friends & Neighbors of Martin County

Keith Fletcher

Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County, President & CEO



This is the season for believing—and in a community as kind as Martin County, it’s not difficult to do.

Even in the last-minute rush of the holiday season, the giving spirit locally is alive and shining through. That generosity can show up in wonderful and surprising ways. I’ll give an example in a moment.

But first, we recently held our annual holiday relief effort Operation Merry & Bright. Civic groups, church groups, small-business owners, retirees and more volunteered in droves to assist our staff in the massive effort. Preparing food packages. Organizing toys. Wrapping gifts. Basically, doing everything necessary to ensure thousands of local children and their families can share in the celebration of the holiday.

While you might expect extra goodwill during the holidays, Martin County thankfully embodies this spirit year-round. I recently shared this point with the Business Development Board of Martin County in its monthly newsletter Martinomics. “There’s a commitment (to others) here that really makes Martin County special. It’s hyper-realized during the giving season, but it plays out over the course of the year.”

That’s especially important as food packages remain our highest priority this coming year. We’re grateful for the community’s recent response to local instances of heightened food insecurity following cuts to federal assistance programs. Your support helped ensure local families in need got the essential food supplies they rely on. Such needs persist, so if you feel called to help us meet them, please visit www.BGCMartin.org to contribute.

It’s longstanding BGCMC practice to send all club members home with backpacks full of food every Friday so they can eat healthfully over the weekend. Everything we provide, including our services, are completely free to club members.

The healthy meals and snacks they get afterschool at the clubs are among the most reliable nutrition they receive. Nearly nine in 10 children in our care qualify for Martin County School District’s free/reduced lunch program. So, we don’t just provide food, we equip them to make healthy decisions.

From the vegetables they grow in the club gardens to the recipes, cooking tips and kitchen skills they learn in our culinary program—all tailored to lead to viable careers in hospitality—we emphasize principles of healthy choices and self-sufficiency.

Such independence is further instilled through our youth workforce development programs, which include industry-led and directed training in HVAC, welding, electrical, construction and much more. The program helps kids acquire durable, in-demand skills for the local job market and lets business leaders share their knowledge in shaping the future workforce.

Not all our contributors need be business leaders nor share employment tips, per se.

One woman approached us wanting to teach kids at our Port Salerno Club how to crochet. We agreed, but I was admittedly doubtful that such lessons would appeal to middle schoolers. But by sharing her passion from an authentic place, the kids responded with an excitement that’s been contagious, making crocheting one of the club’s most popular activities. It’s a reminder that with the right mindset, anything is possible.

And that’s why this time of year—and anytime of year—it’s easy to believe in Martin County that anything is indeed possible. Happy Holidays, everyone!

To read the full article and more, click here.